United Kingdom legislation
| Act of Parliament | |
 Parliament of the United Kingdom | |
| Long title | An Act to alter and amend the Law relating to the Interment of the Remains of any Person found Felo de se |
|---|---|
| Citation | 4 Geo. 4. c. 52 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 July 1823 |
| Commencement | 8 July 1823 |
| Repealed | 1882 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | |
| Status: Repealed | |
The Burial of Suicides Act 1823 (full title - An Act to alter and amend the Law relating to the Interment of the Remains of any Person found Felo de se) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom granted royal assent on 8 July that year and coming into effect on that date. It removed the ban on burial of suicides in consecrated ground and banned the previous practices of burying them on highways and with a stake through the body. It stipulated that such burials had to occur between 9 pm and midnight within 24 hours of the conclusion of the coroner's inquest on the body and only allowed the use of the burial service if the body was in a churchyard or burial yard, without a stake and within those timings.
References
- ^ Richard Burn (1842). The Ecclesiastical Law. Vol. 1. London and Dublin. pp. 266–267.
- "Public General Act, 4 George IV, c. 52". National Archives.